Colossal Ramses II statues unearthed at Behbeit al-Hagar in the Nile Delta

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Colossal Ramses II statues unearthed at Behbeit al-Hagar in the Nile Delta

15 October 2026

Excavators at Behbeit al-Hagar in Egypt's Gharbiya governorate recovered a 1.6-metre-tall statue head of King Ramses II wearing the Double Crown, known as the Pschent. Scholars estimate the complete statue originally stood about 8.5 metres tall. The rear pillar of the head carries the king's Horus name, Hor-Ka-Nakht Mery-Maat. A 2.4-metre torso and head of a second royal statue wearing the Nemes headcloth was also found, along with a 1.3-metre pink granite block inscribed with the royal titles Nesu-Bity, meaning King of Upper and Lower Egypt, and Sa-Re, meaning Son of Ra. A local citizen first reported the granite block to the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, which allowed rescue excavations to begin. The find shows Ramses II used monumental statuary to assert authority in the Delta, away from southern centres such as Luxor and Abu Simbel.

Site: Behbeit al-Hagar, Gharbiya governorate Statue head height: 1.6 metres Estimated original height: 8.5 metres Granite block: 1.3 metres, pink granite

Why it matters for exams: Egyptian archaeology finds and the pharaonic titles attached to them are standard art and culture questions in PSC and UPSC prelims.

Kerala PSCUPSC

15 October 2026 Source: Egypt Independent

In plain words

Pschent Double Crown of Egypt — The combined white crown of Upper Egypt and red crown of Lower Egypt, worn to show rule over a unified Egypt.

Nemes Royal striped headcloth — The striped cloth headdress worn by Egyptian pharaohs, familiar from the mask of Tutankhamun.